Abercrombie sets record in Fish victory

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This article was published 03/07/2019 (2314 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There will come a time — perhaps in the not-too-distant future — when Reggie Abercrombie quietly reflects on the many highlights of a pro baseball career that began at the start of the millennium.

And he’ll surely consider Wednesday as one of those nights to remember.

The veteran slugger made good on his second chance to be a difference maker, clubbing a history-making two-run double in the sixth inning to help propel the Winnipeg Goldeyes to a 4-1 triumph over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at Shaw Park.

Abercrombie, set to turn 39 later this month, set a franchise record with 348 career RBIs, one more than former Goldeyes catcher Luis Alen (2010-15).

“This is a very special night. Any time you get a record, it’s a good night. I’m just trying to see the ball and hit the ball, make good contact again, drive in runs and help us win games,” said the product of Columbus, Ga., playing in his sixth season in Winnipeg and the 20th of his professional career. “Right now, I’ll take this hit, this win and this record.”

After a 40-minute rain delay, the Goldeyes (25-18) slammed the brakes on a three-game losing skid and moved to within three games of the second-place RedHawks (29-16) in the American Association’s North Division. The St. Paul Saints (29-15) lead the division.

Winnipeg starter Kevin McGovern (6-3) had a tidy outing, surrendering just one run on six hits over eight innings, while striking out five batters and walking none.

Up 1-0, the Goldeyes were poised to increase the lead in the bottom half of the fourth inning, but Abercrombie hit into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.

Hitting just .221 with 22 RBIs in 140 plate appearances, he would make amends in style two innings later, jumping all over a slider from Fargo-Moorhead starter Bret Helton.

“I told myself not to fall for it again,” Abercrombie said. “My team’s been positive with me the whole ride and I respect these kids a lot, whether I’m doing good or bad. When you’ve got a great group of guys cheering for you, it’s a great team to be on.”

Wes Darvill was a sparkplug, knocking out three singles and driving in the game’s first run, while Alex Perez picked an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Tyler Hill also had a pair of singles for the hosts.

Afterward, Darvill called it as complete a game as the Goldeyes have put together all season.

“So many positives out of this one, and we really needed that game,” he said. “We’ve been really close lately and some really good things happened in this game. We’ve been close, we’ve been fighting but just coming up short. So, tonight was a huge one for us.”

McGovern found himself in a bind in the second inning after yielding a pair of singles but wiggled out on the strength of a pair of terrific defensive plays by his clubmates. Willy Garcia raced in from right field and slipped on the damp turf but still made a fine grab to register the second out, and then Jordan Hovey fielded a sharp shot down the third-base line and fired the baseball to first to halt the threat.

The help was much appreciated, said McGovern, who has fanned 44 hitters and issued just 18 walks in 58 innings pitched this season.

“I was definitely trying to attack the (strike) zone and get ahead in the count. It was nice to get the ball down and stay ahead in the count. I have a good defence behind me, so it was definitely a lot easier to deep in the game when they’re swinging early,” McGovern said.

“I felt like I had to go deep in the game just to give the bullpen a rest, and know that Fargo’s a good-swinging team and I’d have to trust my stuff.”

Helton struggled with his precision in the bottom half of the first inning, issuing walks to Perez and Willy Garcia before Darvill stepped up and ripped a one-out single up the middle to cash in Perez.

In the fifth, Hovey rapped a leadoff double, moved to second on groundout and scored on deep sacrifice fly by Perez to provide the hosts with a two-run cushion.

Darvill added his third single of the evening in the sixth and later scored on Abercrombie’s memorable hit.

Leobaldo Pina produced the RedHawks only run on a seven-inning sacrifice fly.

Winnipeg opens a rare five-game series with the visiting St. Paul Saints on Thursday at 7 p.m.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell